This is a fundraiser screening. It will be preceded by a small crafts and Lebanese snacks souk in the bar, and a short performance by Lebanese poet Rayanne Chami, and an introduction by curator Taghrid Choucair.

A raw and riveting documentary about Slave to Sirens, the Middle East’s first all-woman thrash metal band.

Set against the backdrop of Lebanon’s political and economic turmoil, Sirens explores what it means to be a musician in a country where censorship constantly looms. Struggling to draw local crowds and enduring relentless online abuse, the band pushes forward, undeterred. Director Rita Baghdadi deftly weaves scenes of protest with the band’s internal struggles, capturing their strength in every frame while exposing a society eager to silence them. The result is an inspirational yet deeply meditative film that serves as a fierce testament to freedom, female solidarity, and the power of our voices.

The film was part of the official selection at Sundance, CPH:DOX, Guadalajara and Thessaloniki film festivals, amongst others.

We are showing Sirens in collaboration with curator Caroline Cassin to raise funds for two grassroots organisations in Lebanon: Haven for Artists, a feminist, decolonial initiative supporting cultural workers, and Marsam Alhakaya, a tuition-free 2D animation programme for refugees and marginalised communities in the country.

Event timings:

15:30-16:30 Crafts and snacks for sale in the Atrium Bar

16:30-16:45 Poetry and introduction

16:45-18:05 Screening of Sirens